Haruo Nakajima, the Japanese actor who wore the Godzilla bodysuit from the 1954 original Godzilla, King of the Monsters, to Godzilla vs. Gigan in 1972, died on August 7 aged 88.

Nakajima captured a nation's imagination playing the monster, which involved him wearing a concrete suit that weighed 100 kilos. He was given little direction, and instead mimicked the animal behaviour he studied by visiting Tokyo zoo.

Nakajima shuffled like an elephant and in such a way as to prevent the bottom of Godzilla’s feet from being seen. He hoped this would “avoid looking vulnerable”.

After years as the lead monster actor for Japanese studio Toho, Nakajima stayed with the company but moved behind the camera, specifically, to the now-defunct bowling alley, which was located on the studio's lot.